5.2.2. Non-manual strategies
Role shift [PRAGMATICS 6] is another important strategy of referential cohesion. Role shift is used to indicate the part of the discourse presented from the point of view of a particular participant. The participant referred to may be some other person (or animal) or the signer himself or herself at some time other than the present. The non-manuals indicate that a referential shift is taking place. The referential shift is enough for reference tracking and no repetition of the full noun phrase to identify the signer of the utterance in the scope of role shift is needed.
A: ix2 come where.
B: ix1 come barcelona.
Topic marking [PRAGMATICS 4.2] and squinted eyes also mark discourse referents previously introduced. While the former neutrally refers to an antecedent already introduced, the latter refers back to an antecedent already introduced but not very salient in discourse (i.e., an antecedent that is still retrievable, although far away in the discourse or belonging to the common ground).
Non-manual associated with topic marking